Top 16, Round 3: CSKA, Olympiacos ease, unbeaten, into Top 16 break!

The halfway point of the Top 16 was reached in Week 3 with home teams taking all but one victory before everyone holds their breath for a one-week break in the competition. Two of the Euroleague's hottest teams staying undefeated in first place, while two other groups with multiple leaders face what are likely to be long, dramatic races to make the playoffs. What's more, the defending champions from Panathinaikos are 0-3, and if they lose again, will be eliminated. Week 3's first victor was one of the 3-0 teams, CSKA, which beat Asseco Prokom 84-73 in their Group G first-place battle as Sasha Kaun dominated inside with18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks. It was CSKA's 10th consecutive victory, but Prokom stayed alone in second place at 2-1 while Unicaja routed Zalgiris 86-68 behind Juan Dixon's 16 points to go 1-2. The situation is identical Group H, where Olympiacos edged Cibona 78-73 as Milos Teodosic scored 17 points. The Reds are 3-0 and followed in second place by the week's sole road winner, Khimki, by a 71-82 decision at Caja Laboral as Kelly McCarty had 23 points and Raul Lopez 18. Things are definitely more complicated in Group E, where three teams now share first place after Maroussi locked down Partizan 57-49 for the latter's first loss as Jamon Lucas scored 15 points and Barcelona toppled still-winless Panathinaikos 83-71 as Roger Grimau scored 17 off the bench. Barcelona, Maroussi and Partizan are all 2-1 now. In Group F, where there was a four-way tie coming into the week. saw the lead is split in two ways after Maccabi Electra defeated Efes Pilsen 72-62 with Alan Anderson pumping in 23 points while Montepaschi took out Real Madrid 83-76 as Terrell McIntyre rolled up 21 points, 11 assists. All of Week 3's matchups will be repeated with changes of venue when the competition returns for Week 4 action on February 24, when already three playoff spots could be decided.